Abnormalities can sometimes complicate pregnancy, increasing the risk for the mother, the fetus, or both.<\/p>\n
Similarly, while most labors and deliveries progress without incident, some are complicated and require special attention.<\/p>\n
Pregnancy<\/a><\/p>\n Pregnancy is a time of profound changes. This video demonstrates through video and time-lapse photography some of those changes.<\/p>\n Spontaneous Abortion<\/a><\/p>\n Any bleeding during the first trimester of pregnancy is abnormal. The cause may be trivial or serious, but it is always abnormal.<\/p>\n Recurrent Pregnancy Loss<\/a><\/p>\n With increasing numbers of consecutive miscarriages, the likelihood of\u00a0another miscarriage does go up, and the causes of these miscarriages change.<\/p>\n Pre-eclampsia and Eclampsia<\/a><\/p>\n Elevated blood pressure during pregnancy is a significant problem affecting as many as 10% of pregnancies. In some cases, the hypertension is pre-existing, while in others, it develops over the course of pregnancy. Occasionally, it does both.<\/p>\n Second and Third Trimester Bleeding<\/a><\/p>\n Bleeding during the second and third trimester has special clinical significance, encompassing problems that are quite serious and those that are normal or expected. It\u2019s important to be able to distinguish between them.<\/p>\n Medical Problems in Pregnancy: Anemia<\/a><\/p>\n During pregnancy, the total blood volume normally increases 40%, reaching a maximum of about 5 liters.\u00a0This 40% increase is accompanied by a smaller increase (about 33%) in the red cell mass. Because the red cell mass doesn\u2019t quite keep up with the total blood volume, there is a naturally-occurring decrease in both the hemoglobin and the hematocrit.<\/p>\n Medical Problems in Pregnancy: Renal Disease<\/a><\/p>\n During pregnancy, there are a number of normal physiologic changes that occur in the kidney.<\/p>\n Medical Problems in Pregnancy: Diabetes<\/a><\/p>\n Pregnancy affects glucose metabolism. The placenta produces hPL (Human Placental Lactogen) in large quantities that decreases glucose uptake an promotes lipolysis, leading to increases in circulating free fatty acids. The placenta also produces large amounts of estrogen, progesterone and insulinase, all of which have the effect of increasing the insulin requirements of the mother.<\/p>\n Medical Problems in Pregnancy: Pulmonary Disease<\/a><\/p>\n There are some clinically important changes in respiratory anatomy and physiology during pregnancy.<\/p>\n Medical Problems in Pregnancy: Thyroid Disease<\/a><\/p>\n A number of predictable changes occur in the thyroid gland during pregnancy that has consequences for those\u00a0evaluating and managing pregnant patients.<\/p>\n Postpartum Care<\/a><\/p>\n Lochia is the name for vaginal discharge following delivery. For several days, vaginal bleeding will persist,\u00a0similar to a heavy menstrual period (lochia rubra). Then, it will thin and become more pale in color (lochia\u00a0serosa).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Abnormalities can sometimes complicate pregnancy, increasing the risk for the mother, the fetus, or both. Similarly, while most labors and deliveries progress without incident, some are complicated and require special attention. Pregnancy Pregnancy is a time of profound changes. This video demonstrates through video and time-lapse photography some of those changes. Spontaneous Abortion Any bleeding … Continue reading Obstetrics<\/span>